SynthesisFrontiers in physiology2026
Effects of functional training on linear sprint and change-of-direction performance in soccer players: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Functional training is increasingly incorporated into soccer conditioning; however, its effects on linear sprint and change-of-direction (COD) performance remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of structured functional training on linear sprint and directional-change performance in soccer players. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SPORTDiscus via EBSCOhost, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched from database inception to 6 July 2026. Randomized controlled trials comparing structured functional training with usual soccer training, no additional training, or other non-functional training conditions were included. Pooled effects were calculated as Hedges' g with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Exploratory subgroup analyses were conducted according to intervention duration, weekly training frequency, and sprint distance. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials involving 260 soccer players were included. Functional training significantly improved pre-planned COD performance (nine trials; n = 240; Hedges' g = -0.72, 95% CI -1.23 to -0.22; p = 0.005; I Conclusion: Structured functional training may improve linear sprint and pre-planned COD performance in soccer players. However, the magnitude of the pooled effects should be interpreted cautiously because of between-study heterogeneity, the influence of individual studies, and the limited evidence base. Current evidence is insufficient to establish an optimal training prescription or to extrapolate these findings to reactive agility or match performance. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PR, identifier CRD420261441220.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.